Futures of Social Citizenship.

• Applicant: Dr. Catharina Peeck-Ho
• Subject Area: Empirical Social Research
• Term: since 2026
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 572003708

The scientific network aims to develop new theoretical and empirical perspectives on social rights. The goal is to address the future of social citizenship as a central aspect of global change. The focus is on migration because it reflects the relationships and associated power relations between the Global North and the Global South. Societal transformations in the Anthropocene are characterized by the realization that humans play a decisive role in shaping the planet. At the same time, however, humans are overwhelmed by the devastating consequences of this change. Ulrich Beck's (2012 [1986]) diagnosis of the risk society and Zygmunt Bauman's (1991, 2000) diagnosis of "ambivalent" and "liquid modernity" have pointed to the global dimensions of this problem. These social challenges and problems are particularly evident in migration. If we regard citizenship as a principle that promotes solidarity in today's societies, then it makes sense to focus on the dynamics and changes in domestic (Brandzel, 2022) and global (Shachar, 2009) social inequalities and their impact on migrants' access to social rights. This includes reflecting on the effects of social, economic, and technological developments, as well as the consequences of capitalism, including environmental destruction and climate change. While states with advanced social systems can mitigate the consequences to a certain extent, poorer regions often do not receive adequate support. These developments particularly affect migrants: illegalized persons often have to organize their lives under precarious conditions, and even people with valid residence permits often have only limited access to social rights. The network discusses these inequalities and the associated processes of marginalization. It also addresses changing access to social rights and the effects of anti-migration policies. How can states organize a dignified life and basic social security for migrants based on social rights? Which actors intervene when state measures fail? These questions are at the heart of the network. The network focuses on three areas: (a) discursive arenas where social rights are negotiated (e.g., local initiatives, national discourses, and international organizations); (b) actors addressing specific situations of inequality and their methods (e.g., civil society, state actors, and migrant organizations); and (c) associated practices of claiming and enforcing social rights (e.g., Protests, citizen participation, legal and administrative measures).

• DFG Programme: Scientific Networks
• Co-Investigator: Professor Dr. Matthias Otten